The JOY Broadcast

Not everyone loves Christmas. And that's okay.This week, I'm sitting down with my dear friend Eleanor Goddard - entrepreneur, wife, mum of two twentysomethings - for a conversation that goes deeper than tinsel and turkey.We're talking about death at Christmas (yes, really). About teenagers who still need you but don't think they do. About the pressure of holding everyone and everything together during "the most wonderful time of the year."And about why that pressure? It's actually a privilege.This is a raw, honest, beautiful conversation about navigating loss, aging parents, grown children, and the question that death keeps asking us: What do you want to do with this one life?Eleanor will be back in the New Year to continue this conversation - because somehow we lost the final 10 minutes! But our conversation was too good not to share and she will be back in the New Year!What We Talk AboutOn death and funerals at Christmas.On parents and lossOn squeezing more out of lifeOn the next chapterAbout Eleanor GoddardEleanor is the co-owner of Furnish & Fettle Interiors, the design business she runs alongside her husband, Glyn. A proud mum to Newcastle University students Ollie and Hattie—and to Ralph, the family’s lively black Labrador puppy—she balances entrepreneurship with a full and colourful home life.Before launching the business, she built a successful career in medical sales. That chapter ended abruptly when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and the rare neurological condition orthostatic tremor, leading to a profound period of personal challenge. Her health journey included navigating depression and chronic fatigue as she came to terms with the loss of her career and identity. Driven by curiosity and determination, she immersed herself in research and clinical trials, and today her rheumatoid arthritis is generally well controlled, though flares still occur. Her orthostatic tremor remains her most significant daily hurdle, limiting her ability to stand without shaking—yet it’s also become part of the story that fuels her resilience & drive.She’s recently discovered a passion for cold-water swimming, and often draws on the mind-body tools she gained while training in clinical hypnotherapy after her two hypnobirths.Alongside running Furnish & Fettle, she has also stepped into the world of angel investing, embracing the learning curve, the energy of the community, and the thrill of building a portfolio that supports exciting new ventures. As her experience grows, she is beginning to explore the possibility of sharing her insights more formally—potentially stepping into a Non-Executive Director role to support and guide other founders on their journeys.Connect with EleanorFurnish & Fettle: https://www.furnishandfettle.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/furnish_and_fettle/ Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-goddard-a6a19024/Coming in the New YearEleanor will be back to continue this conversation. Stay tuned for Part 2.Listen now for a conversation that's raw, real, and full of more joy than bah humbug (even when we tried).https://www.alimortimer.com/

Whether you're nurturing a relationship, longing for more connection, or calling in a new love entirely… this week's episode will speak straight to your heart.I sat down with the incredible Dimple - a woman whose work in love, healing and alignment has changed lives around the world.She's been featured on the BBC, Tony Robbins' podcast, is a best-selling author and international speaker… but what you'll feel most is her energy.Her presence heals. Her voice shifts something inside you. And her teachings open doors - fast.May this episode bring you closer to the love you desire - and the love you deserve.What We Talk AboutOn bringing love back at ChristmasOn the Hawkins Scale & staying in love's frequencyOn manifesting love & connectionOn the "It's Done" mentalityOn Christmas stress & what really mattersOn self-love & boundariesSome of my favourite lines & quotes: Dimple: "If you're feeling that you're lacking companionship, where are you not being your own companion?""I was feeling in my marriage so much neglect and I was blaming him for the neglect. Actually the truth is I was neglecting myself. So I was a match for neglect.""On Christmas Day, if somebody's pissing you off, all I want you to think about is: does this really fucking matter? Or can I just pull another cracker?""The frequency of gratitude can only occur if you've received it already. So you're in the frequency of having received it, which means you've already done it."Ali: "We cannot inflict a feeling on somebody else unless they're already feeling it already.""It's loving yourself enough to be able to say, I love myself to remove myself from this situation.""When you align with love, you amplify your joy. And the more joy you feel, the more you become a super-attractor because joy is one of the highest frequencies on the quantum scale.""Setting boundaries and forgiveness are acts of self-love. If you can stay in that frequency of love and ask that question - what would love do? - you're on the path to having a really beautiful, loving Christmas."Book: A Return to Love by Marianne WilliamsonQuote shared: "Something amazing happens when we surrender and just love. We melt into another world, a realm of power already within us. The world changes when we change. The world softens when we soften. The world loves us when we choose to love the world." (Page 61)Connect with DimpleYou can reach Dimple through the contact form on her website, or stay connected by following her on her social channels: Website: https://dimpleglobal.com/Facebook: dimple.thakrarLinked In: dimplethakrarTiktok: @dimple.amoreInstagram: @dimple.amore Quantum magnetic Membership Final ThoughtsIf you're navigating family tension, relationship challenges, or loneliness this season, remember:What would love do?This is The Joy Rebellion at Christmas.Subscribe to The Joy Broadcast to never miss conversations that shift your frequency and amplify your joy.https://www.alimortimer.com/

Ali welcomes her online bestie Paula Ivy - an Australian photographer and artist who changed Ali's life through the transformational power of self-portraiture. This emotional conversation explores how learning to photograph yourself becomes a radical act of self-love, how to leave a photographic legacy for those you love, and why printed photographs matter more than ever.Key InsightsPhotography as Radical Self-LovePaula doesn't just teach photography - she teaches women to see themselves differently. What starts as learning angles and lighting becomes something much deeper: learning to look at yourself objectively, beyond the critical voice that says "fugly," beyond the conditioning from parents and society.Ali's transformation: "I came in thinking I'd learn to take photos. Instead, Paula taught me how to see myself as art. My body became shapes and images, not just flaws. It was alchemizing, transformational, healing."The Light Switch MomentEvery person who works with Paula experiences this: a moment when the light switch flips and suddenly you lean closer to the mirror and think, "Holy shit. I am beautiful. I can SEE it."From Fugly to PhenomenalWe all carry voices - from parents, ex-partners, friends, society - that tell us we're not good enough. Too fat, too ugly, too old, too much, not enough.Paula's work helps you reprogram that voice. Like Ali's son Willy dancing in the mirror saying "I love myself, I look hot" - that's the energy we can reclaim.The Wayne Dyer TruthAli's favourite quote: "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."Paula teaches you to change the way you look at YOURSELF. And when you do, you change.Leaving a Legacy: The Importance of Printed PhotographsAli's mum hated how she looked. When she died 10 years ago, there were no photographs of her. That absence - that lack of visual memory - was devastating.Ali's mission: Create thousands of photographs so her boys have a box full of memories when she's gone.Paula's wisdom: In an age of AI and digital manipulation, printed photographs become PROOF. Tangible truth. "This is the history, this is the past that I've had. It's here and it can't be messed with because it's printed. It's a thing."Photography is Becoming More Important, Not LessAs AI makes everything questionable, as digital images can be altered beyond recognition, physical printed photographs become our anchor to truth and memory.The invitation: Print your photos. Create albums. Leave tangible proof of your existence, your beauty, your life.And so much more!Please connect with Paula - she will change your life - you will start to see yourself & your life through a different lens.You will find all her work through my affiliate link here: https://www.paulaivy.com/alimortimer?affiliate=XScVFDCheck out her freebie: 'F*ck I am beautiful' - a personal project through selfies.I have taken all her programmes, starting with Selfography30,  Selfie Queens, 121 for brand artistry and now in her membership Selfography.Follow her on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/paulatheivyIf you loved this episode - please leave me a review & share it on your socials!With all my loveAli xohttps://www.alimortimer.com/

Ali welcomes her friend Denny Devine - an angel walking this earth - for a conversation about staying calm, connected, and joyful during the festive season. They explore the balance between Christmas celebrations and the natural darkness of winter, how to find light in the dark, and practical tools for managing the overwhelming tornado that Christmas can feel like.Key InsightsThe Cultural Push vs. Natural RhythmChristmas happens at the darkest time of year. Traditionally, winter solstice (December 21st) was about hunkering down and celebrating the return of light. Now, we're dragged into what Denny calls "a bit of a tornado" - the pressure to be glittery and joyful when nature is actually inviting us to rest.The truth: It's okay to find Christmas both lovely AND overwhelming.Finding Light in the DarkBoth Ali and Denny have walked through darkness to get where they are today. Their shared wisdom: Don't avoid the dark. The jewels are found there.When darkness is plunged upon you, there's no choice but to find the light. But it's not always as simple as "turning on the light" - sometimes you can't find the switch. You're feeling around in pitch black.The revelation: The light isn't outside you. It's within you. When you sit IN the darkness instead of avoiding it, you find the jewels that spark your own light.Lifting the Rug: What Are You Afraid to Find?People don't lift the rug because they fear the monsters underneath. They fear the worst-case scenario. But what if instead of monsters, you found diamonds? Ruby slippers? Glass slippers?The practice: Lean into the dark parts of yourself with curiosity, not fear. You have no idea what you're going to find - so don't always assume the worst.The Pause: Your Most Powerful ToolWhen life gets busy and overwhelming (hello, Christmas), the most important practice is THE PAUSE.Before you respond, before you react, before you spiral - pause. Even if it's just 60 seconds. Feel what's coming up. Connect with yourself.As Denny says: "Stop responding to every single thought. Just sit. Let awareness bubble up. Let vulnerability bubble up. See what's there and just let it be there."The Havening PracticeWhen you need to soothe yourself, try this physical self-soothing technique:Cross your arms over your chest (give yourself a hug)Stroke down from your shoulders to your elbows with opposite handsWhile doing this, repeat: "I shed the shame. I give myself grace."Why it works: We're primed from babies to find comfort in this motion. It's deeply soothing.Forgiveness as a Daily PracticeDenny practices forgiveness for herself constantly, especially at Christmas when routines slip and perfection isn't possible.Ali's forgiveness mantra: "I shed the shame. I give myself grace."Repeat it until your shoulders drop. That's you connecting with yourself, giving yourself the hug when no one else is there.The Cacao RitualDenny's daily ritual is making cacao - her "safe place in the day." She even sings to her cacao (Christmas carols at the holidays!).The principle: Find your 5-minute ritual. It might not be cacao, but create sacred time to sit in stillness, reflect on the day, and just BE.You Can't Delegate Your WellbeingJust like you can't delegate your health (from Debbie's episode!), you can't delegate your peace, your joy, or your healing.This is JUST ON YOU. And that's actually empowering, not limiting.Staying Connected Through the ChaosThe most important thing during a crazy season: Stay connected to yourself.Notice whhttps://www.alimortimer.com/

Ali talks with her friend & chiropractor Debbie Townsend, also lifestyle advocate, author & Dutch Test Provider about happy hormones during the festive season. This conversation covers hormone health, stress, menopause, and how to keep your body balanced when life gets busy. Deep science made accessible and practical.Debbie's Wellness Triangle: Three Sides of HealthDebbie's Complete Lifestyle approach looks at three essential areas:Physical - Movement, alignment, exercise Chemical - Food, water, air, supplements, medications Emotional - Mental wellbeing and stressKey insight: Stress comes from ANY of these three sides. Poor diet is chemical stress. Lack of movement is physical stress. Anxiety is emotional stress. Your body responds to all of it.Chronic health is preventable through lifestyle. Your body is like a bank account - you can't keep making withdrawals without eventually running poor.The Stress-Hormone ConnectionWhen stressed (physically, chemically, or emotionally):→ Cortisol spikes → Blood sugar becomes erratic → Sleep disrupts → Sex hormones get suppressed (survival mode = no reproduction) → Everything compoundsResult: Exhaustion, weight gain (especially around the middle), mood swings, hormone chaos.Food is 80% of Your HealthStop worrying so much about running every day. Start with your plate.The sugar problem: Modern food is loaded with hidden sugars. When blood sugar constantly spikes and crashes, cortisol works overtime to compensate.Simple rule: Pair sugar with protein (nuts, cheese, eggs) to stabilize blood sugar.Menopause Doesn't Have to Be MiserableHow well you go through perimenopause and menopause depends on your stress levels, diet, movement, sleep, and how you've treated your body up until this point.It's not inevitable that this transition has to be difficult.You Can't Delegate Your HealthGary Barlow's story: Despite success and resources, he found himself struggling with alcohol, weight gain, and low motivation. After seeing his doctor, his first thought walking back to his car was: "Who can I get to do this for me?"Before he reached his car, it hit him: This is the ONE thing only HE could do.He went home, put on trainers, tried to run around the block, and thought he was going to die. But that's where it started.The lesson: You cannot delegate your health. This is JUST ON YOU.Ali's brings the JOY: focus Just On You, That's Joy!Anytime you hear the word JOY, remember: it has to be JUST ON YOU.Your health. Your hormones. Your happiness. Your choices.When you focus on what YOUR body needs, on what brings YOU joy - that's when everything shifts.Practical TakeawaysStart with food - 80% of your healthPair sugar with protein - Stabilizes blood sugar (nuts, cheese, eggs)Stay hydrated - Especially if drinking alcoholAddress stress holistically - Physical, chemical, AND emotionalMake deposits, not just withdrawals - Your body is a bank accountOwn your health - No one can do this for youDebbie's Healthy Hideaway Retreat3-day immersive hormone and lifestyle retreat in January With Debbie Townsend & Kimberly (medical herbalist)Learn how to eat for your hormones, balance cortisol, stabilize blood sugar, sleep well, plus yoga, Pilates, and breathwork. Half sold out already.Connect with DebbieInstagram: https://www.alimortimer.com/